OK, so today is the spanish Father´s Day--I didn´t know that until Elder Dalton told me the other day-and our locutorio is closed....so we are in the public library and the emails and feelings I´m having right now are just so close to the surface and well, tender, for lack of a better word, and I am crying like a baby. This just will not do!haha When did I turn into a watery basket-case?! Oh well, my testimony is growing a ton because it is getting watered frequently. Miracle stories:

"I have two miracle stories that I would like to share this week! First, on the train into Barcelona to pick up my new companion, I got to contact and teach a lesson with my brother!!! I cannot properly explain how much this meant to me. It has been a secret desire of my heart since arriving here in Spain and only my Heavenly Father knew. The man´s name was Alberto and he is a very active Christian. He wanted to talk to us about what we believe. With Elder Rhead, we taught the first and second lessons! His beliefs are very close to ours and he listened and liked what we had to say. I shared the first vision with him and we got a Book of Mormon for him when we got off the train. It was amazing to see my brother teach and how powerful his testimony is. It is a moment I will cherish forever.

Second, I have to tell you just how real the gift of tongues is in my mission and life right now. It was such an immediate switch that there is no room for doubt in my mind that it has nothing to do with me or my abilities. I am understanding almost everything that others say to me, translating for my companion and making phone calls all day long--this especially has been a weakness for me my whole mission/life. It is incredible to very literally feel the Spirit working through me and knowing that it is not me. I am living a miracle every day and that is the only way that I am able to be training and a senior companion right now."

How precious, right? I think I am seeing/have seen so many tender mercies and miracles this week because my Heavenly Father knows I need them. Ok, reality check. I promised to be 100% honest in my emails so,yes, I am training and I am a very young and inexperienced missionary who has recently become very aware of my lack of...well, everything missionary-wise, except for three things--Faith, Hope, Charity. And that is all that I need :-)

My new companion is Hermana Maxwell from Glendale, Utah. NO relation to Elder Maxwell. Yes, everyone asks.haha Her verbal spanish is great! She is already a wonderful missionary and we are working great together. As far as I can tell, she isn´t freaking out or frustrated with me and my bumbling around trying to "train" and be "senior companion." We are excited to work, work, WORK!!! Our area needs lots of work and we are going to do it together. In fact, I have already warned her that we are doing everything together because over the next 2 transfers we will get 42ish new missionaries and we are starting now to prepare her to train. Yee haw.

I am not exaggerating about the gift of tongues. It has been a sudden change and incredible to experience. I am talking on the phone all day and trying to take care of business. It is hard, frustrating and humbling, but most growing experiences are. The scriptures say, "and it came to pass" not "and it came to stay." I´m not going to lie; I have been close to tears since Friday, but no major or minor meltdowns yet, thanks to the gift of fervent and constant prayer. "Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." I think I repeat these sayings to myself 100x a day.

I am happy and working hard, learning a ton and finding out what missionary work is REALLY like.haha Thank you for the prayers, I feel them daily and they keep me going.

Hug the Freeman´s and Sis DeWitt for me. Our Ward is so amazing. I had pics to send, but can´t until next week because we are at the library. Don´t worry, I have been a good trainer--I got pics with Hna Maxwell and treated her to napolitanas on the boardwalk today.haha Thanks for the family updates, Mom. They make me so happy and feel connected. Nothing but a mission would be worth missing what I am missing at home right now--and that doesn´t make me homesick, it makes me happy and work harder!

Much love and tender feelings--I am developing my tear ducts quite well here in Spain.

Hermana Clarissa Dalton